(CNN) - Dr. Benjamin Carson, who made headlines for making political statements during his keynote address at the National Prayer Breakfast, will speak at the Conservative Political Action Conference.

"Dr. Ben Carson represents the optimism and hope of the future of the conservative movement, while at the same time he articulates the deep fiscal and social challenges that our nation faces," said Al Cardenas, chairman of the American Conservative Union, the group that sponsors the annual gathering.Follow @politicalticker

Carson became a conservative favorite when he indirectly criticized tax policies and health care reform while President Obama sat just feet from him at the prayer breakfast earlier this month.

"When I pick up my Bible, you know what I see? I see the fairest individual in the universe, God, and he's given us a system. It's called tithe. Now we don't necessarily have to do 10%, but it's the principle," Carson said, adding that the progressive tax system is the "kind of thinking that has resulted in 602 banks in the Cayman Islands."

"That money needs to be back here building our infrastructure and creating jobs," he said.

Carson, a renowned pediatric neurosurgeon, also lamented the idea of government-funded health insurance.

"Here's my solution. When a person is born, give him a birth certificate, an electronic medical record and a health savings account [HSA], to which money can be contributed, pre-tax from the time you are born, to the time you die. When you die, you can pass it on to your family members," he said.

"For the people who are indigent, who don't have any money, we can make contributions to their HSA each month because we already have this huge pot of money instead of sending it to bureaucracy – let's put it into HSAs," he added. "Now they have some control over their own health care and what do you think they're going to do? They're going to learn very quickly how to be responsible."

Carson's comments quickly won favor among many conservative blogs and news outlets.

soundoff(38 Responses)

Ben Carson is a spectacular person. I'd vote for him in a second. He is everything that Obama is NOT. Obama is nothing but a political snake oil salesmen.

February 27, 2013 02:18 pm at 2:18 pm |

SOUTHERN HOTTIE

Tithes, HSAs? And who is this "we" he's referring to? If I had to be accountable for properly administering and treating patients I'd be lamenting the ACA too. By the way, has anyone ever gone to a hospital and been charged $1.50 for a single Tylenol pill? Have fun with the rest of the crazies at CPAC, Carson.

February 27, 2013 02:19 pm at 2:19 pm |

SOUTHERN HOTTIE

Who?

February 27, 2013 02:20 pm at 2:20 pm |

Eli

It's easier said than done. Dr Carson, since you have an idea, come out and run for public office, may be you'll win and then we put your ideas to work. Another tea party freak.

February 27, 2013 02:23 pm at 2:23 pm |

Marie MD

ben carson as in pediatrician and renowned physician at Johns Hopkins? That ben carson???
@tommyg – you want to explain the difference between two inteligent black men getting to where they are against all odds? One a physician and one our President? You see how dumb you rethugs are?
BTW – this takes carson at least to the bottom of the ladder. I dont' care what good a doctor he is. He is a horse's behind when all is said and done.

February 27, 2013 02:25 pm at 2:25 pm |

kayla

just another brown noser

February 27, 2013 02:29 pm at 2:29 pm |

jkane sfl the gop national disgrace party will be swept out like the trash they are in2014 ?

It's nice that the conservative gop takes no responsibility for anything or has any useful solutions that would do anything for their countrymen but continue to help their corporation clints with tax breaks while they pocket taxpayers money ,the gop conservative garbage will be out after 2014 mid term and the few that are left won't matter !!!!

February 27, 2013 02:30 pm at 2:30 pm |

Evergreen

I actually consider my taxes as a form of tithe because, for the most part, it goes towards the greater good and well being of our nation. Also, Greed, one of the "Deadly Sins," caused those off shore accounts.

February 27, 2013 02:31 pm at 2:31 pm |

Nola

This is a person that I respected and also purchased his books – but at this stage I intend to destroyed the books and lost all respected for this man. He is highly intellient and I cannot understand him associating with the likes of these mindless people.

February 27, 2013 02:33 pm at 2:33 pm |

Sniffit

HSAs? hahaha...and they all go "POOF" the next time Wall Street causes a massive global economic crisis...which I can guarantee you be shortly after they got their hands on all the HSAs.

"Where did all the money go? I'm sorry, but we have no idea. It was here one minute and then we had this collapse and now it's all gone. Excuse me whle I cash this weeks $580,000 paycheck........aaaah, there we go. Now, where were we? Oh yes, we have no idea where the money went and there's no way to trace where it was siphoned off to. Excuse me, the contractor building my 8th McMansion is on the other line. Ok, I'm back. That's right, we have no idea where the money went and that's my final answer. I don't have time to repeat myself again because I have to take this private corporate jet to Hong Kong for some meetings and and evening of child p-rn."

February 27, 2013 02:34 pm at 2:34 pm |

SOUTHERN HOTTIE

CPAC probably paid him so that it can claim "diversity" in its membership; waiting to hear who the Asian, Latino, and LGBT tokens are. LOL!

February 27, 2013 02:41 pm at 2:41 pm |

DENNA

With all due respect, Dr. Carson, when Barack Obama goes away, so will any hope for blacks in the Republican party. The GOP climbed, grudgingly, on the bandwagon when President Obama was elected, then reelected. Heck, this time, the GOP is even beginning to see the wisdom courting the Hispanic vote.

February 27, 2013 02:42 pm at 2:42 pm |

madge49

Absloute disrespect & disregard for the time & energy the president spent trying to secure health /wellness for the poor /needy

February 27, 2013 02:46 pm at 2:46 pm |

Ancient Texan

An extremely intelligent, educated and patriotic American that has much to offer to his country. That means the left will attempt to crucify and demean him.

February 27, 2013 02:53 pm at 2:53 pm |

Rudy NYC

"Here's my solution. When a person is born, give him a birth certificate, an electronic medical record and a health savings account [HSA], to which money can be contributed, pre-tax from the time you are born, to the time you die. When you die, you can pass it on to your family members," he said.
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What a wonderful idea that he's come up with. I'm sure the health insurance industry will love it because it takes them totally out of the loop.

Another problem with that idea is that we used to do it almost just like that. People used their saved up retirements to pay for their medical expenses late in life. Once they used up their savings, the medical community couldn't simply kick them to the curb to die.

But, they couldn't afford to provide them with endless free care, either. Seeing how private industry didn't want to cover them, the government decided to do it and charge people a premium during their prime working years and collect a tax. That system that he describes exists today. IT's called Medicare. It exists only because private industry refuses to cover seniors or those with long term illnesses.

February 27, 2013 02:57 pm at 2:57 pm |

Sniffit

"He is everything that Obama is NOT."

i.e., docile and compliant?

February 27, 2013 02:57 pm at 2:57 pm |

Mary Leeper

I have always respected Dr. Carson, I have his book, attended his speeches, and enjoyed his life's movie. But, I believe I am losing my respect for him, now that I see that he is part of the Teabaggers. At least thats the way he sounds. How sickening He was one of my heroes!

February 27, 2013 03:00 pm at 3:00 pm |

DENNA

@ – Ancient Texan – An extremely intelligent, educated and patriotic American that has much to offer to his country. That means the left will attempt to crucify and demean him.
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President Obama is also an extremely intelligent, educated and a patriotic American. Why is it that you don't see that? Conservatives do this country a disservice by whining about the President all the time. Conservatives are destroying this country, piece by piece. I wish you would think about the rest of us and not your own very, very, selfish interests.

February 27, 2013 03:06 pm at 3:06 pm |

Rudy NYC

rjc asked:

Can anyone please share the list of the Cuts that the President has offered? I'd like to review those..
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Have you tried simply looking at the White House web site? It's been up there for weeks already.

Right wing media just doesn't want to tell you about it. They would rather justify their lack of a specific plan to cut spending by telling you that the Pres. doesn't have a plan. It's called misdirection and projection, BTW.

February 27, 2013 03:18 pm at 3:18 pm |

freedom

Awesome ! As I read somewhere recently – it takes a brain surgeon to run this country.

February 27, 2013 03:18 pm at 3:18 pm |

The NRA is a T e r r o r i st organisation....Arming Mentally Unbalanced People to Kill Innocent Children

We have seen his types before: Herman Cain, Alan Keyes, Larry Elder, Allen West....these are the black TOKENS that are being trotted out by the RIGHT WING NUTs!!!

The point is they are all FLAKY and will NEVER accomplish what President Obama achieved in LIFE!!!

Your putting the whole United States problems that was created even before Barack Obama became president does NOT make you smarter because you're a black conservative...it just shows that you're DUMB, A TOKEN, A PUPPET, A LACKEY, that will be USED & DUMPED just like the many other black conservatives before you!!!!

So this idiot Ben Carson can go his 15mins of SHAME @ CPAC and go sit down and STFU!!!!

February 27, 2013 03:21 pm at 3:21 pm |

Fair is Fair

Sniffit

"He is everything that Obama is NOT."

i.e., docile and compliant?
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You should really be ashamed of yourself. You really should.

February 27, 2013 03:22 pm at 3:22 pm |

The NRA is a T e r r o r i st organisation....Arming Mentally Unbalanced People to Kill Innocent Children

We have seen his types before: Herman Cain, Alan Keyes, Larry Elder, Allen West....these are the black TOKENS that are being trotted out by the RIGHT WING NUTs!!!

The point is they are all FLAKY and will NEVER accomplish what President Obama achieved in LIFE!!!

By putting the whole United States problems at the feet of the president that was even created before Barack Obama became president does NOT make you smarter because you're a black conservative...it just shows that you're DUMB, A TOKEN, A PUPPET, A LACKEY, that will be USED & DUMPED just like the many other black conservatives before you!!!!

So this idiot Ben Carson can go get his 15mins of SHAME @ CPAC and go sit down and STFU!!!!

February 27, 2013 03:23 pm at 3:23 pm |

Dominican mama 4 Obama

An extremely intelligent, educated and patriotic American that has much to offer to his country.
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So long as he doesn't become YOUR President right Ancient?
Heard that bs before from your type right up there with "One of my best friends is Black"...
Yada, yada, yada, yada. Put a sock in it.